Week 2 winner
Marjorie Chema riding Emmy Lee
 
Emmy Lee, #234, arrived at our farm as a six month old, half Spanish Arab, half Oldenburg. I bought her based on a video and a dressage expert's opinion on potential. I was planning for my 'old' age future which probably wasn't going to include eventing and fox hunting. When she stepped off that trailer and I have to say she was exceptionally homily. She was mostly like other colts I had raised, except her temperament was a huge combination of emotional reactivity, extreme sensitivity and occasionally willfulness.
 
Emmy Lee has great work ethics. She learns faster and figures things out more rapidly then any horse I've ever seen. She always gives me an honest try.
 
In her first years, she was the kind of horse that easily gets an exclusive arena career. She was the kind of horse that many riders are reluctant to take out of the arena, into the world of trail riding. Mostly her early speed, emotional reactivity, and outbursts would have convinced many of us to ride defensively. We hang on to this kind of horse's face thinking we've got control. In reality the trail was exactly where Emmy Lee needed to go. By sheer Grace, and great fortune, I met people along the journey that showed me the wonderful horse Emmy Lee could become. I will always marvel that I have the great fortune to have this sensitive and willing horse as my trail companion. Emmy Lee has captured my heart completely and I am thrilled to ride her down the trail.

Week 4 winner
Kathy DeHass riding Blue  
 
"Blue'' lives in Ohio on Windy Hill Farm. Blue was purchased by her owners Ted and Kathy DeHass in the summer of 2009. She was just a 3 year old. Blue was living at an Amish farm being ridden on trail rides and gathering the milk cows from the pasture both morning and night. We bought her to put in our training program to sell at a later date. This is what we do here at Windy Hill Farm. We have over 100 head of horses in all stages of training. We will market them for sale when we feel they are ready. We try to match horse and rider with a safe horse for them to enjoy and feel safe on. We get many trade in horses and have rescued many horses that now live here on the farm.
 
I (Kathy) began riding Blue right away and fell in love with her. She was and still is willing to do anything asked of her. In the summer of 2010 I used Blue for riding lessons, from young kids to adults. When we would have groups come from our church Blue would be the first horse we would saddle up for beginner riders. My sister-in-law and niece from Japan took their first horse ride on Blue. I competed in extreme cowboy races with her. She really enjoys trail rides, which we do in our spare time. I also use her to pony young horses and guide young riders on trail rides.

Week 5 winner
Tori Blankenship riding Absolut Sunrise   
 
Absolut entered my life at the 2009 MFTHBA Celebration Show. I had been looking for a young prospect to bring on, and bring home to my empty stall. I had watched "Abo" as a 2, 3 and now 4 year old at the annual Celebration. He was so beautiful and moved so gracefully, he was hard not to notice.
 
His owners had asked me if I had found my next FOSH horse yet, then gave Bud & I the fantastic opportunity to purchase Absolut and take him home with us after the Celebration. I kept checking inside the trailer on our way home to make sure it was true, he was coming home with us!
 
From the moment I first took Absolut's lead rope in hand, the trust between us began.
Abo is so pure and innocent, no past demons to battle. He has a rock solid and trusting base. He is bold, so curious and truly a lover of life and all that takes part in that. Abo taught me how to ride his wonderful performance gaits with the patience of an old school master. I would ride for hours and hours, feeling, giving, balancing. Then when given the chance to go where he wanted on slack reins, he'd take me right back out to our work area. Abo loves interaction any way he can get it, this horse makes me laugh every day...all the time!

Week 6 winner
Mary Wasson riding Miss Dee    
 
Miss Dee has a natural acceptance for everything she encounters on the trail and it's clear that when she's out riding, she's in her element. On one of her first long trail rides, a friend and I decided to ride Miss Dee and another mule up a mountain in Colorado. Recent forest fires had closed most of the roads, so we started up a trail we found. About halfway to the top, we realized it wasn't a trail at all, but a deer path - a vertical one that only went part way. We were stuck. The only thing to do was to dismount and walk back down. And, the only way to do that was to get down on our haunches and creep down the mountain. So, that's what we did - the two of us and the mules, on our haunches, down the mountain. Not one complaint from Miss Dee or the other mule. I can't say that for the two riders.
 
With her extraordinary trail wisdom, Miss Dee and I have explored Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas. Not once have I been worried, afraid, or doubting. As they say, "there's a reason they ride mules in the Grand Canyon." Miss Dee is a remarkable spirit and my favorite trail...MULE!

Week 7 winner
Julie Moore riding The New Yorker     
 
Manny (aka "The New Yorker") came into my life when he was 13 months old. I was looking for a companion for my retired Versatility Show Horse. A good friend owned him and wanted him to have a good home. When I went to see him, he was in a pasture with some weanlings, yearlings and a couple of older horses. He was the same size as the weanlings, not because he was underfed; somehow he had just forgotten to grow. His little head had a bump between his eyes and did not seem to fit the rest of his body. As soon as he saw me he came over and never left my side as I walked around the pasture looking at the other horses. Even though he was a little ugly duckling, I fell in love and took him home. He was so small I could not start him under saddle until he was over three years old. Then he started to grow and all of his parts came together and he became a beautiful little man. He was a joy to work with and we soon became great partners on the trail and at Versatility events.

He enjoys everything I ask him to do from trail riding, competitive trail, working cows, jumping a hunter course, performing tricks and competing in the America's Favorite Trail Horse competition. As you can see from his performance at the America's Favorite Trail Horse finals, his ears are always up and he is always enjoying being with me doing fun stuff.

Week 8 winner
Traci Woodard riding Rusty Executive
 
We purchased Rusty when he was only 7 months old, with great hopes for his future. He was immediately introduced to Downunder Horsemanship and caught on quickly to the natural horsemanship training methods. Rusty competed in halter classes as a baby and won numerous Grand Champion awards. We did not intend for Rusty to be a halter horse, but simply used the shows as a means to expose him to as many new things as possible. Along with showing, Rusty was ponied on trail rides and accompanied the other horses on camping trips and other outings to build his confidence.
 
From his first ride to the most recent, Rusty has exuded a curious and pleasant attitude. Every picture captures him with an alert expression and ears forward. On one of his first camping trips as a two year old, the group encountered a Florida black bear. Rusty spotted it and quickened his pace toward the bear... ears pricked and a look of curiosity on his face... he wanted to know what that big black blob was. All of his seasoned trail partners were more interested in turning back and getting away from that bear, as fast as possible! His great attitude and willing nature make Rusty a favorite wherever he goes.

Week 11 winner
TJ Clibborn riding Choke

I believe that Choke, my 4 year old mare, should be America's Next Favorite Trail Horse because she is the true American horse, a former wild mustang. About 5 years ago, I entered in my first Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, I was not able to bid for my horse but from then I fell in love with the wild mustang. But this is about Americas Next Favorite Horse, my next wild mustang mare, Choke! I was lucky enough to draw her for the 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge held during the Midwest Horse Fair. Our first night together was very dramatic as Choke decided to eat her shavings in her stall. The shavings become lodged in her esophagus. As she had never been handled before, a truly wild horse, a trust had to be established right away. With my heart in my hand, I snuck into the stall and palpated her throat for 10-15 minutes, dislodging the obstruction. From that moment on, Choke and I forged a bond that will last forever. She went on to finish 5th in the finals in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge.

Over the years she has competed in numerous events, winning several obstacle challenges as well as the 2011 Ultimate Cowboy Challenge in Belvidere, WI. I came to America twenty years ago to train horses and further improve my horsemanship skills. I have done many clinics and expos around the country as well as have competed in numerous events from cutting to show jumping. In all those years have never found a more versatile horse than America's precious wild mustang! Choke is one of the youngest finalists in this competition and starting out wild to boot, which is a great sign of an extraordinary horse with heart!